Arulmigu Uthamar Kovil — Attraction in Tamil Nadu

Uthamar Kovi Temple, Trichy-Salem Main Road Manachanallur, Taluk, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu – 621216 Pooja Timings: Ushathkalam - 5:30 AM Kalasanthi - 8:00 AM Uchikalam - 10:00 AM Sayarakshai - 5:00 PM Irandamkalam - 7:00 PM Ardha Jamam - 8:30 PM A historic Hindu temple located on the fringes of the Tiruchirappalli city, Sri Uthamar Kovil is an illustrious temple dedicated to the Trimurtis of Hindusim - Lord Vishnu the Preserver of the Universe, Lord Shiva the Destroyer of the Universe and Lord Brahma the Creator of the Universe. Just 11.2 km away from the city center of Trichy and 3.9 km away from the temple town of Srirangam, Uthamar Kovil is one among the 108 Divya Desams (the 108 Vishnu temples that are named in the compositions of the Tamil Azhwars). Standing majestically portraying the age old Dravidian style of architecture, Arulmigu Uthamar Kovil is lauded in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, a massive collection of four thousand Tamil hymns written by the 12 Azhwars (poet saints) from the 6th–9th centuries AD. The renowned temple is considered to have been constructed by the Medieval Cholas (the greatest South Indian empire) of the late 8th century AD, with subsequent contributions from the rulers of Vijyanagara Empire and Nayaks from Madurai Nayak dynasty. A behemoth granite wall fences the temple and the sacred temple tank is situated just outside the main entrance of the temple Uthamar Kovil was once called as Kathambanur. Legend has it that Lord Vishnu once desired to examine the veneration of Lord Brahma. As a part of his test, Lord Vishnu emerged as a Kadhamba tree in the site and Lord Brahma, learning this, commenced with his poojas with Thirumanjanam (ceremonial bath to deities). The water used by Lord Brahma for the ceremonial bath of deities filled a tank, which later came to be called as 'Kathamba Theertham'. Lord Vishnu was gratified with the veneration of Lord Brahma and granted a blessing to Lord Brahma to possess a temple in this place. As Lord Vishnu appeared here as a 'Kadhamba Tree', this place was called as 'Kathambanur', which later became 'Karambanur'. Even today, many people use the name 'Bhikshandar Kovil' instead of its present name. Another legend has it that both Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma were having five heads. Goddess Parvti (Shiv-Patni), on finding someone with five heads, she mistook Lord Brahma for her consort. The goddess went ahead and performed 'Padha Pooja' for Lord Brahma thinking that it is her husband. Lord Brahma, realizing Goddess Parvti's misunderstanding remained calm and accepted the worship. Lord Shiva entered and understood that the goddess had no idea about performing Padha Pooja to Lord Brahma. Lord Shiva was furious and he plucked the fifth head of Lord Brahma. Since then Lord Brahma has had only four heads and is called as 'Chaturmukha'. The removed head got attached in the hand of Lord Shiva because of a curse of Lord Brahma. To come out of the curse and sin, Lord Shiva went on a pilgrimage and worshiped Lord Vishnu at this temple as Bhikshadana, he was from a part of his sin. On continuing his pilgrimage, Lord Shiva was fully relieved from his sin. As Lord Shiva visited this holy site and got relived from his doshas, the place is known as 'Bhikshandar Kovil' often spelt as 'Pitchandar Kovil'. Uthamar Kovil has separate shrines and deities for Purushottamar (Lord Vishnu), Bikshandar (Lord Shiva), Lord Brahma and their consorts Goddess Poornavalli, Goddess Soundaraya Parvathi and Goddess Gnana Saraswathi. Arulmigu Uthamar Kovil is one among the very few ancient places of worship for Hindus in the globe, where the Trimurti of Hinduism (Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva) are revered with their consorts in six separate shrines (sannidhis) inside the same temple. Lord Brahma and Goddess Gnana Saraswathi - South Facing Lord Bikshandar (Lord Shiva) and Soundharya Parvathi Thayar also known as Vadivudai Nayaki (Goddess Parvathi) - South Facing Lord Purushothaman Perumal (Lord Vishnu - Primary deity) and Pooranavalli Thayar (Goddess Mahalakshmi)...

Sri Utthamar Kovil is the 3rd of the 108 divya desams of Lord Vishnu. This temple is one of the rarest Hindu temples in the world, where the Trinity Gods (trimurti) are worshipped along with their consorts in six separate shrines within the same temple premises.

One of the legends describes that, due to the conceitedness of Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva got angry and plucked off the fifth head of Lord Brahma, who was initially five-faced. Because of this decapitation, Lord Shiva was subjected to a sin (Brahmahatthi Dhosham). The decapitated skull of Brahma stuck in the hand of Shiva as a bowl, which not only got off his hand, but also consumed all the things that are offered to Lord Shiva. In order to expiate this sin, Shiva sought the help of Lord Vishnu, who in turn asked his consort, Goddess Mahalakshmi to assist. Mahalakshmi, the reservoir of wealth, filled the bowl with the alms, which in some time began to overflow. Unable to bear the over-consumption, the bowl got shattered into pieces and Lord Shiva is acquitted from the sin. Since Lord Shiva was helpless with the bowl in his hand and roamed as a mendicant, he is regarded here as Bikshaadaneswarar. Goddess Lakshmi, who filled excess of wealth in Shiva's bowl to appease the sin, is praised as Poornavalli.

Another legend describes that, in order to test Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu transformed into a bur-flower tree (Kadhamba Maram). Lord Brahma recognised that this tree is a transfiguration of Lord Vishnu, worshipped and made the formal rituals to this tree. A happy Lord Vishnu transformed into his original form and gave blessings to Lord Brahma.

Lord Vishnu is worshipped here as Sri Purushotthama Perumal, who is in sayana kolam (reclining pose) facing east. His posture is very similar to that of Lord Ranganatha in Srirangam, differing from the fact that, here Lord Brahma is flourishing on the lotus stalk emanating from Vishnu's navel, which can't be seen in Srirangam. Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped here as Sri Poornavalli Thaayaar, who is facing east. Lord Shiva is worshipped here as Bikshaadaneswarar facing west, with his consort Sri Soundara Parvathi Ambaal, who is facing south. Bikshaadaneswarar's shrine is located exactly to the backside of Purushotthama's shrine. Bikshaadanar is one of the 63 forms of Lord Shiva. Lord Brahma and his consort Sri Gnana Saraswathi Devi are seen in separate shrines, close to each other. They both are facing in the south direction. An interesting fact here to notice is, Saraswathi Devi, as seen in many of her other temples, is not carrying her usual attribute - the musical instrument Veena. Here, she carries palm leaves (olai suvadi) and rosary (japa mala).

Apart from trimurti and tridevi, this temple is famous for viewing 7 gurus namely Deva guru (Guru Bhagavan), Asura guru (Sukhra Bhagavan), Gnana guru (Skandhan), Parabrahma guru (Brahma), Vishnu guru (Varadharraja Swamy), Sakthi guru (Soundara Parvati), Siva guru (Dakshinamurthy). Hence this temple is regarded as the Saptha Guru Sthalam. This temple also houses Mahaganapathy and Sani Bhagavan, Murugar, Aadhi Brahma, Dasaratha Lingam, Lakshmi Narayanar, Rama with Sita and Lakshmanan, Venugopala Swamy with Bama and Rukmani, Durga, Hanuman, Garudaazhwar and Navagraha. The fact which makes this temple more special is, 3 different Brahma images are present (first from Purushotthama's navel, second inside the hall of Bikshaadanar shrine and third in a separate shrine) in a single temple.

This temple is locally regarded as Bikshaandaar Kovil, and is open from 06:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 04:30 PM to 08:00 PM. The old name of this locality is Thirukkarambanur. It is located on the Manacchanallur Taluk (on the Trichy-Salem main road), about walking distance from the area called No.1 Toll Gate, one of the important junction points in Trichy. There is also a railway station located in this area, where only local trains like Villupuram MEMU and Thirupathiripuliyur DEMU are stopping.

Vimanam: Udhyoga Vimanam Sthala Vruksham: Kadhali Maram (Red Banana Tree) Theertham:...

Uthamar Kovil (also known as Thirukkarambanoor or Bhikshandar Kovil) in Uthamarkoil, a village in the outskirts of Tiruchirappalli in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Trimurti Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the early medieval Tamil canon of the Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. It is one of the 108 Divyadesam dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Purshottamar and his consort Lakshmi as Poornavalli.

As per Hindu legend, the temple is believed to have been constructed by Janaka, the king of Janakapuri and the father of the goddess Sita. Thirumangai Azhwar is believed to have resided in the temple to build the surrounding walls of the Srirangam Ranganathaswamy temple. The temple is believed to have been built by the Medieval Cholas of the late 8th century AD, with later contributions from Vijayanagar kings and Madurai Nayaks. During the war between British and French in 1751, the temple acted as an infantry for both the troops.[1] There was no damage done to the temple during the war.[4]

A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The temples has images and separate shrines for Purushottamar (Vishnu), Bhikshadanar (Shiva), Brahma and their respective consorts Poornavalli (Lakshmi), Soundaraya Parvati and Saraswati. This is one of the few historical Hindu temples in the world, where the Hindu Trimurti are worshipped along with their consorts in six separate shrines within the same temple complex. The central shrine facing East houses the image of Vishnu, as Purushottamar, in reclining posture with the discus in one hand. The roof or vimana of the central shrine is called Udhyoga Vimana. There are two shrines located to the south east, each housing the image of Poornavalli and Mahalakshmi. The Shiva shrine, located behind Vishnu's, houses the lingam (aniconic form of Shiva) as Bhikshadanar. The granite images of the deities Ganesha (son of Shiva and god of wisdom), Murugan (son of Shiva and god of war), Nandi (the bull and vehicle of Shiva) and Navagraha (nine planetary deities) are located in the hall leading to the Shiva sanctum. As in other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the first precinct of the Shiva shrine has images of Dakshinamurthy (Shiva as the Teacher), Durga (warrior-goddess) and Chandikeswarar (a saint and devotee of Shiva). The shrines of Brahma and his consort Saraswati are located in the south west corner of the temple complex.[citation needed]

The Sapthaguru or seven gurus (teachers) are identified in the temple. The seven are Bhikshadanar (representing Sadasiva Guru, Shiva as a guru), Brahma (Brahma Guru), Soundarya Parvati (Shakti Guru, the Goddess as a guru), Brihaspati (Deva Guru, the teacher of the gods), Varadarajaperumal (Vishnu Guru), Murugan (Gnana Guru, the guru of knowledge) and Shukra (Asura Guru, the guru of demons).

Festival and administration

The temple priests perform the puja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. The priests of the Bhikshadanar shrine belong to the Shaiva community, while the priests of Purushothamar are from Vaishnava community. The temple rituals are performed six times a day; Ushathkalam at 5:30 a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 10:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 5:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at 7:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 8:30 p.m. The Shaiva and Vaishnava sects have their own rituals. The ritual of Bhikshadanar comprises four steps: abhisheka (sacred bath), alangaram (decoration), naivethanam (food offering) and deepa aradanai (waving of lamps) for both Bhikshadanar and Soundarya Parvati. The worship is held amidst religious instructions in the Vedas (sacred texts) read by priests and prostration by worshippers in front of the temple mast. There are weekly rituals like somavaram (Monday) and sukravaram (Friday), fortnightly rituals like pradosham and monthly festivals like amavasai (new moon day), kiruthigai, pournami (full moon day)...